County Championship wrap: Middlesex pull off sensational win against Somerset

DIVISION ONE

Somerset vs Middlesex

Middlesex smashed 96 runs off the final eight overs in a sensational run-chase of 302 against Somerset on the final day at the County ground in Taunton on Wednesday (July 13) to collect 23 points from the fixture. The day began with Somerset resuming on 348 for 6, before right-arm pacer James Fuller ran through the lower order. Peter Trego, who was batting on an overnight score of 115, managed to add just 23 runs. Jack Leach and Tim Groenewald frustrated the visitors with an unbeaten 42-run 10th wicket stand off 98 balls before Chris Rogers decided to declare and ask Middlesex to chase 302 off a minimum of 46 overs.

Despite Sam Robson's early exit, Nick Gubbins and Dawid Malan kept the visiting side in the hunt. Groenewald, however, broke the stand when Craig Overton pulled off a blinder in the 17th over to send Malan packing. Gubbins, who'd gone past the fifty-run mark during the course of the second-wicket partnership, dealt in boundaries during his stroke-filled knock of 76. While attempting one big shot too many, he perished with 150 runs on the board in 23 overs.

Middlesex lost two more wickets for just 35 runs as George Bailey and skipper James Franklin failed to make valuable contributions in chase. Just when the game began to slip away from Middlesex's grasp, a scintillating 86-run partnership off 53 balls for the sixth wicket between James Fuller and John Simpson ensued, keeping Somerset players on their toes. The devastating batting display from the duo, including a barrage of fours and sixes, narrowed down the target to 34 from five overs. However, the scales were once again tipped in the favour of the home side as Jack Leach picked up two wickets in the space of three deliveries, leaving Simpson stranded at one end. Stephen Eskinazi, Middlesex's No. 10 batsman, eased a bit of pressure by scoring two fours off Leach but soon became Groenewald's fifth scalp of the innings.

Yet that wasn't enough to save the hosts. With eight to get from the last over, Simpson stayed till the end and sealed the game with a six to finish unbeaten on 79 off 80 deliveries, an essay laced with five fours and four sixes.

Brief scores: Somerset 236 & 446/9 (Peter Trego 138, Marcus Trescothick 124; Harry Podmore 3-89) lost to Middlesex 381 (James Fuller 93, James Harris 78; Jim Allenby 4-67) & 302/8 (John Simpson 79*, Nick Gubbins 76, Tim Groenewald 5-90) by 2 wickets.

Surrey v Yorkshire

An unbeaten century from Adam Lyth and a solid 150-run partnership for the third wicket with skipper Andrew Gale helped Yorkshire narrow down the first-innings deficit on Surrey at stumps on Day 3 at the Oval. Surrey began the day on 164 for 5, starring at a poor first innings total before fifties from Steven Davies (56) and Sam Curran (56 not out) helped the hosts drag their essay. After David Willey bagged three wickets on day two, leg spinner Adil Rashid got into the act, dismantling the lower order as Surrey folded for 267.

In reply, Curan and Stuart Meaker struck early blows but Lyth displayed class to steer his team clear of trouble. At stumps, he was batting on 116 with his team trailing by just 60 runs.

Brief scores: Surrey 267 (Aaron Finch 52, Zafar Ansari 40; David Willey 3-59, Steven Patterson 3-58) lead Yorkshire 207/3 (Adam Lyth 116*, Andrew Gale 61) by 60 runs.

Warwickshire v Hampshire

Centuries from Sam Hain (135) and Tim Ambrose (104), and a 224-run fifth-wicket partnership between the two dominated the final day's proceedings at Edgbaston in Birmingham as the County fixture between Warwickshire and Hampshire ended in a draw. At the start of day's play, Warwickshire began on 131 for 3, with Jonathan Trott batting on 59. The former England batsman added just nine runs to his overnight tally but Hain and Ambrose took over to guide the team towards the draw.

Brief scores: Hampshire 531 (Adam Wheater 204*, Liam Dawson 116; Josh Poysden 4-85) drew with Warwickshire 398/6 (Sam Hain 135, Tim Ambrose 104, Jonathan Trott 68; Mason Crane 2-56)

DIVISION TWO

Gloucestershire vs Essex

Matthew Quinn, the 23-year-old Auckland pacer, registered his best figures in first-class cricket, picking up a seven-wicket haul, to put Essex in command against Gloucestershire in the Division two County Championship game in Cheltenham. Quinn's 7 for 61, his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, reduced the hosts to 218 for 8 at stumps on day one.

Openers Gareth Roderick and Chris Dent were involved in a 77-run stand to get Gloucestershire off to a solid start after the hosts were asked to bat. The partnership was ended by Jamie Porter, who dismissed Dent for 37. Graeme van Buuren then joined skipper Roderick and took the home team to 98 for 1 when it started raining just before the lunch interval. After a lengthy delay, play finally resumed and the hosts lost a flurry of wickets with Quinn wreaking havoc.

From 98 for 1, they slipped to 140 for 7 with Roderick (61) being one of Quinn's six victims in that passage of play. Craig Miles and David Payne came up with a 65-run stand for the eighth wicket before Quinn struck again, sending back Payne for 26.

Miles, who was unbeaten on 45 at stumps, will have a key role to play if Gloucestershire are to get anything more than one batting point. With only 68 overs possible on day one, there are as many as 42 overs available for both teams to try to get the bonus points. With the current situation, the visitors are on track to gain the three bowling points on offer.

Brief scores: Gloucestershire 218/8 (Gareth Roderick 61, Craig Miles 45*; Matthew Quinn 7-61, Jamie Porter 1-61) vs Essex.

Northamptonshire vs Worcestershire

Worcestershire registered a massive 311-run win against Northamptonshire on the third day of the Division Two County Championship match at Northampton.

Brief scores: Worcestershire 277 (Ben Cox 74, Azharullah 4-68) and 324/8 decl (Brett D'Oliveira 81, Seekkuge Prasanna 2-14) beat Northamptonshire 148 (Adam Rossington 55, Joe Leach 5-70) and 142 (Steven Crook 33, Matt Henry 5-36) by 311 runs.